YMCA in South Africa
History of the YMCA in South Africa
YMCA Growth Efforts in South Africa
South African Economy
Sports in South Africa
Developing Inroads in South Africa
The YMCA in South Africa has a long history of progressive service in the country. The organization is the largest NGO and Africa and was on the forefront of combatting apartheid in South Africa. However, today the organization faces a new set of challenges; the most notable of which is a high youth unemployment rate, one of the highest in the world actually. The YMCA is in the best position to help this demographic with their history in the region as well as the infrastructure they have already built. The YMCA seeks actively seek additional funding so that they can leverage their position to positively affect youth opportunities in this region.
History of the YMCA in South Africa
George Williams founded the YMCA in 1844 when joined 11 friends to organize the first Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), a refuge of Bible study and prayer for young men seeking escape from the hazards of life on the streets. The first South African YMCA was established in Cape Town in 1865 followed by subsequent locations which opened in Pietermaritzburg and Durban a few years later. The first locations were set up to primarily serve young British men who immigrated with their families who were employees temporarily or permanent residents and these locations were backed by some of the most influential families in the country.
Max Yergan was first secretary that was placed in South Africa and he didn't receive this position until he went to serve in 1921. From this point on the YMCA stood as a force in racial integration in the country which manifested a half century later.
"In 1985 the World Council of YMCAs passed a resolution condemning the South African government's policy of apartheid as a crime and "a permanent violation of all human dignity and of the most elementary civil rights." South African YMCAs solidified their policies towards racial integration, both in membership at the YMCAs and in the employees of the YMCAs. They promoted education of young Africans whose potential had been impaired by the process of "separate development." The YMCA also selected a joint task force for action on apartheid whose responsibilities were to follow up on the recommendations and agreements emerging from the World Alliance delegation's visit to South Africa and the international meeting on apartheid. The YMCA also began a Youth In Exile project that provided services to youth who were displaced and living as refugees in the countries bordering South Africa due to the economic and military destabilization efforts of the South African government.
The YMCA took a strong stance on ending apartheid in South Africa and has deep roots in that country's political movements in the twentieth century.
YMCA Growth Efforts in South Africa
The YMCS South Africa represents a large organization that is involved with a multifaceted growth campaign that consists of many different efforts. One of the global movements that South Africa is a member of is referred to as the "one million voices" campaign.
"The World YMCA's One Million Voices (OMV) project will contribute to the understanding of youth perspective on social justice issues and barriers and opportunities relating to employment, health, civic engagement, and organizational involvement. We will hear young people 15 to 24 years' collective and individual orientation on individual, family, and society, and present and future orientation. The learning will inform the policies and practices of youth-serving agencies everywhere, inspire new programmes, funders and advocates for empowering youth.
The South African YMCA is participating in the effort and hosting an international workshop to train young people in research and interview techniques so that they can return to their domestic countries and survey young people to understand what specific challenges they face in different areas. The results of this effort are designed to impact the lives of young people in more meaningful ways based on their unique circumstances.
The African alliance in general is the oldest NGO in the country with about seven million participants and collaborates with a wide variety of national movements by conducting research, developing local as well as continental programming, monitoring and evaluating progress, as well as communicating the impact of different programs. In this manner the African Alliance of YMCAs (AAYMCA) cooperates with many other NGOs to address social and environmental concerns in Africa as a whole including issues such as health and education.
South African Economy
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